Airstrike kills Islamic State ‘one-eyed emir’ south of Kirkuk
Coalition aircraft while conducting airstrikes against IS in Iraq
A local source told Alsumaria News that an air raid targeted a rest house belonging to the IS on the outskirts of al-Riyad town, killing Abu Wahab al-Iraqi, an IS emir who is known as al-Aawar (the one-eyed emir), and five other elements.
“Al-Aawar was a senior leader in IS’ soldiers office and was close to the emir of the so-called state of Kirkuk,” the source added, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Riyad city is still under the grip of IS.
On Saturday, an airstrike by warplanes from the United States-led coalition killed 15 Islamic State members in Kirkuk.
Islamic State has held a few havens in southwestern Kirkuk, most notably the town of Hawija, since 2014, when the group proclaimed an “Islamic caliphate” on a third of Iraq and Syria. The group had reportedly relocated commands of areas lost to security forces to Kirkuk, with some sources previously quoted saying it became the group’s new capital.
The group lost more than 25.000 members in military operations since their launch in October, according to Iraqi generals. A few thousands are thought to remain in Kirkuk, Anbar, Salahuddin and Tal Afar.